ABB expands e Bus charging portfolio with automated pantograph

Completing its comprehensive range of charging solutions for sustainable public transport, a flexible and automated pantograph has been launched to enable efficient operations for e-Bus fleets.

With the global electric bus (e-Bus) market predicted to record a compound annual growth rate of 16.6% until 2025*, ABB has further demonstrated its commitment to transforming mobility with the launch of the latest addition to its e-Bus charging portfolio, Panto Up.

Launched at leading public transport show UITP 2019 in Stockholm, Sweden, Panto Up has been designed to provide a flexible, efficient and fully automated charging solution for large “As a market leading provider of EV charging solutions it is our role to empower businesses with the innovative thinking and expertise to make mobility more sustainable,” said Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for EV Charging Infrastructure. “Panto Up is a key milestone in our journey to make automated charging a feasible option for operators that wish to reduce their carbon footprint, minimize costs, and gain better control of fleet performance.”er fleets of electric buses, where limited depot space has driven the decision to select buses with a roof mounted pantograph.

Panto Up, combined with ABB’s sequential charging system for a depot, is an easy to install charging concept which enables
sequential overnight charging of up to three buses at the same time, with an available power range of 50-150kW per vehicle. Panto Up also delivers a power range of 150-600kW for ‘opportunity charging’ at end stops of bus lines during the day, providing an ideal solution to ensure zero-emission public transport without impacting normal operations.

“As a market leading provider of EV charging solutions it is our role to empower businesses with the innovative thinking and expertise to make mobility more sustainable,” said Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB’s global business for EV Charging Infrastructure. “Panto Up is a key milestone in our journey to make automated charging a feasible option for operators that wish to reduce their carbon footprint, minimize costs, and gain better control of fleet performance.”

Panto Up complements ABB’s market leading e-Bus charging portfolio, which comprises connector charging solutions ranging from a 24kW DC Wallbox at 1000V and the 50kW Terra 54 HV at 1000V to 350kW chargers with liquid cooled cables. It also includes the well-established Panto Down, which is based on OppCharge, an open interface for DC electric bus charging.

Muehlon continues: “With the continued expansion of our charging portfolio ABB can now address the different requirements of all e-Bus operators around the world, regardless of fleet size. The need to drive greater adoption for sustainable public transport is clear and we are proud to be enabling this transition with our continuous innovations in charging technology.”

Part of the ABB AbilityTM portfolio of digital and connected solutions, Panto Up benefits from remote diagnostics and management tools. These advanced services enable high uptime of the equipment, a fast response to problems and provide businesses with powerful statistics on their charging operation.

ABB is a world leader in electric vehicle infrastructure, offering the full range of charging and electrification solutions for electric cars, electric and hybrid buses as well as for ships and railways. ABB entered the EV-charging market back in 2010, and today has sold more than 10,500 ABB DC fast chargers across 73 countries.

Fortune Magazine recently ranked ABB #8 on its list of companies that are “changing the world” for the advances it has made in e-mobility and electric vehicle charging. In its role as title partner of the ABB FIA Formula E championship and as Official Charging Partner for the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY series, ABB extends its commitment to support and expand the future of smart and sustainable transport.